Plenty of interest in vintage machinery

It may be called the East Otago Vintage Machinery Club, but its members come from much further afield.

Dedicated to promoting the restoration and retention of vintage and heritage machinery, among its 40 members are people from Kirwee, west of Christchurch, and Port Chalmers near Dunedin.

"We’re getting quite a few from outside," club secretary Noel Sheat said.

"The club’s going so well, they all want to be involved."

Members comprise "one or two mechanics", retired railway engine drivers, and farmers.

Mr Sheat is one of the latter, as well as being a former international ploughing representative.

The club staged a huge display of its tractors and motors at the recent Palmerston and Waihemo A&P Show.

Each tractor was driven from the club’s museum in Factory Rd, towards the Shag River at the northern edge of Palmerston.

Even more would have joined the line-up, but the time limit at the showgrounds elapsed before they could all get there, Mr Sheat said.

Some of the motors were "quite unusual", he said.

One was New Zealand-made and another from the United States was known as the Rolls-Royce of US small motors.

The club was always interested in having newcomers join up, Mr Sheat said. They could find out more through its Facebook page.

sally.brooker@alliedpress.co.nz